Clarian Health Partners, an Indiana hospital chain has decided to start penailizing employees who don't stay in shape.
In 2009 Clarian will dock each of their 26,000 employees paychecks; $5 if you smoke, $10 if you're overweight, and $5 for high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
Since often one health issue comes with more, there could be employees losing up to $30 a check (grocery or gas money for some families). Besides the obvious; like who decided where the lines are drawn.
Why is smoking less bad than being overweight. Will we end with these issues; what about sunscreen, organic foods, drinking alcohol, or using the computer too much?
Personally, I think it's a bad idea and here's why.
Soon after, I decided to notice the good times not the bad. Whenever Cedar went for a while (for him at that stage a few hours) with no tantrum I made sure to notice. I'd say, "Wow, I'm so happy that you're trying to be a good friend today and not yell and scream... It's nice to have a calm home" then I'd give him something he'd love, like extra fun project time with me or a surprise toy. It worked. Telling him no didn't, taking his stuff didn't; rewarding his niceness worked.
I think companies should reward healthy behaviors not punish poor behaviors. One company I worked for did. They had a stop smoking club and an exercise group. If you met a goal you set for yourself there was a fun party to attend and people were awarded gift certificates. Sometimes the company would give health items out like health monitors, water bottles, and more.
That same company instituted an in company exercise program that you could attend or even train to teach the class. The whole mentality of the company was "Let's get fit together!" It worked well. I know employees who lost 30 pounds purely because of the program. Research backs it up too. I actually wrote a grant for this same company regarding in-office workout programs and everywhere you look for research there are positive results and happy employees.
My last say on the matter, I think that one, it's stealing which is never cool and also you can't change people on the inside by force. If you bully someone enough they may change, they may show you a side that's different; but it won't be an honest change that comes from the inside. That's not healthy or long term.
What do you think?
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Positive reinforcement is often more effective than negative. Instead of docking employee pay for health reason, the company should help to provide resources and solutions to the issues they are concerned about. This policy seems like it will demoralize employees who probably want to be healthier but don't necessarily have the motivation or the know-how.
On another note, is that even legal? I understand many companies are required to give their full-time employees benefits but does that give them the right to then dictate health standards? Isn't a policy like this stepping over the line into the private lives of their employees?
I think to avoid all of the issues that could arise from such a policy, this company should really think about implementing some health solutions and programs. Demoralized employees are not likely to get healthier.
Posted by: Kimberlee Morrison | August 14, 2007 11:25 AM | Permalink to Comment